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Time has often been a valued element, and now becomes a valuable component for people that collect antique gold pocket watches. 

The history of pocket watches extends back to the mid 1400’s, evidenced by a letter from an Italian clockmaker to a noble.  In the document, the nobleman is offered what was called as a pocket clock by the clockmaker.  A businessman of German descent was making pocket watches in 1524 in Britain using a revolutionary spring technology ; clock faces that exhibited only 1 hand to indicate the hour now took the place of using the sun to tell what time it is.  Time could be estimated inside an hour or so of the real time.  The minute hand was added much later in the late 1600’s when technology sophisticated farther ; enabling wearers of the watches to gauge time inside minutes of the actual time.  As technology allowed more definitive time gauging, more embellishments were added to meet a growing interest in the watches. 

Portable watches, as they were called in the early days, were first constructed of steel by blacksmiths and locksmiths as they were accustomed to working with the alloy.  Over time, other more acceptable substances were used instead, such as brass, silver and gold.  Jewels and fragile scroll work were added to embellish some of the watches to make them more engaging for the wealthy.  Antique gold pocket watches, especially those with jewels, are particularly valuable for collectors because of these gildings. 

Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Ball and Illinois are just a few of the early makers of pocket watches whose products are among those valued the highest.  Dating back to the mid 1800’s and of beautiful design, many of these watches are wanted as collectibles.  Another popular collector type of pocket watch is a series called Railroad watches.  These watchs were used by train engineers in crucial time keeping schedules for train arrivals and departures.  The accuracy of the watches were more precisely correct than most, as any variance of time faster or slower could mean sad situations for 2 trains on one track.  As with any antique, the value of the item relies on how much a buyer is willing to pay for it. 

The prize of many collectors is antique gold pocket watches, with histories that go back virtually 150 years.  Regularly owned by the well to do in society, these watchs would likely have wonderful stories if they were only ready to tell more than time.

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